Data Recording Method

ABSTRACT

When recording an AV stream, and carrying out a playlist editing, to carry out the editing with an accuracy of a frame unit. 
     An editing point of a recorded AV stream file is configured with a position of a GOP and a frame quantity of the GOP, and recorded as a management file.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority from Japanese application serialno. JP 2006-350848, filed on Dec. 27, 2006, the content of which ishereby incorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing device whichrecords and reproduces data in and from a recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

As background technology of the technological field, there are, forexample, JP-A-2000-152180 and JP-A-2001-101840.

In JP-A-2000-152180, in response to a problem stating: “to realize animage editing in a single recording medium, without overwriting anexisting image recorded in the recording medium”, it is described thatmeans for resolution is used which states: “an optical disc has an AVfile, in which are recorded a plurality of AV data, and an RTRWmanagement file, in which are recorded a plurality of items of PGCinformation which specify a plurality of subintervals in the AV data.There being an original type and a user defined type of PGC information,each item of cell information in the user defined type of PGCinformation specifies one from among the subintervals in the AV dataselected as editing material, and an alignment order thereof indicates areproduction order provisionally decided by an image editing operation”.

In JP-A-2001-101840, in response to a problem stating: “Moving images ona video tape cassette can only be viewed by mounting the cassette in aplayer, and reproducing. The viewing, in both a case in which all themoving images are viewed, and a case in which it is merely confirmedwhat kind of moving images are contained, necessitates carrying outexactly the same operation. Consequently, a considerable time is neededto find out in which video tape cassette a desired image is contained”,it is described that means for resolution is used which states: “a stillimage, which is a representative, is generated for each unit of themoving images, only the still images are gathered and recorded, asmanagement data separate from a moving image stream, in a medium inwhich the moving image stream is recorded, or in a medium, to which aquick access is possible, corresponding one to one to that medium. Then,by quickly reading the management data and displaying them, an outlineof a whole of the moving image stream is swiftly presented to a user”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Along with a development of high efficiency coding technology, it hasbecome possible to code amount compress AV data, such as an image orsound, as digital data, and record them in real time in a high capacityrecording medium, such as a hard disc or a recording optical disc. Also,with a recording/reproducing device which includes these recordingmedia, in a case in which the digital data have been input from anexterior, by a broadcast or communication, in an already code amountcompressed condition, it is also possible to record these digital datadirectly in the recording medium.

With these recording/reproducing devices, management information formanaging the digital data to be recorded is generated, and they arerecorded together on the same recording medium. In the event that arewritable one is used as the recording medium, by rewriting themanagement information, and generating and operating a list which showsa reproduction order (hereafter called a playlist), a user can carry outan editing operation on the recording/reproducing device. That is, theplaylist links together portions of the AV data, and indicates thereproduction order. As one example, a management condition of AV data ona recording medium of the related art is shown in FIG. 2. 201, being theactual AV data on the recording medium, shows a case in which a programno. 1 to a program no. 3 (for example, it corresponds to one program ina case in which a recorder which records broadcast programs has recordedone program) exist as recording units. 202 showing a second managementhierarchy (a management level 2) of management information, originalcell information no. 1 to original cell information no. 3 show allreproduction ranges of program units, the program no. 1 to the programno. 3, respectively. Also, user defined cell information no. 1 to userdefined cell information no. 2, showing a reproduction range of a wholeor a portion of a program freely specified by the user (for example, oneportion which the user has specified of the one program in theheretofore described recorder), a quantity thereof increases ordecreases in accordance with the user's editing operation. 203 showing afirst management hierarchy (a management level 1) of the managementinformation, and program set information including all the original cellinformation no. 1 to original cell information no. 3, by reproducingwith this as a base, the user can reproduce all the AV data recorded onthe recording medium. Also, playlist information no. 1 to playlistinformation no. k showing a reproduction order of the user defined cellinformation freely specified by the user, it is possible to have aplurality thereof. Inside a frame indicated by 204 is originalinformation which manages a whole of the AV data in the managementinformation, and inside a frame indicated by 205 is user definedinformation for managing playlists according to the user's editingoperation.

In FIG. 2, as the playlist information is managed as the managementlevel 1, in the same way as the program set information, an order of theplurality of items of playlist information themselves being uniquelydetermined, it has not been possible, for example, to carry out a changeof a display order of a list of the playlists on a user interface. Froma point of view of improving a usability, a kind of recording method anddevice with which the user can freely carry out a rearrangementoperation of the playlist list display order on the user interface isdesirable.

Also, in the heretofore known examples, no consideration has been givento a matter of a plurality of users generating, selecting and managingpreferred playlist information.

Also, in the heretofore described JP-A-2000-152180, no consideration hasbeen given to a point that, in a case in which a reproduction of areproduced program is interrupted partway through, and a reproductioncarried out again, with regard to a resume reproduction in which it isreproduced from a portion at which the reproduction has been interrupted(a resume point), it is possible to carry out a resume reproductioncontrol in accordance with a reproduction condition, such as, forexample, a case in which a playlist has been reproduced, a case in whicha program has been reproduced, at a time at which the reproduction isstopped.

Also, an optical disc being used as the recording medium, beingintrinsically a medium with which the recording into the medium, aswitching speed of the reproduction, and the like, are slow, regarding acase in which a reproducing process is carried out while recording, noconsideration has been given to it as a recording format.

Also, in a case of a navigation display, which displays a list ofprogram contents in the recording medium on one screen in reduced image(hereafter referred to as thumbnail) units, as a process is requiredwhich repeats an expansion of a compressed image of an actual program, areduction to a thumbnail size, and a disposition on a navigation screen,when carrying out the display of the thumbnail, no consideration hasbeen given to a point of carrying out the navigation display quickly.

Also, in the heretofore described JP-A-2001-101840, even in a case inwhich a plurality of program contents exist in the recording medium, aplurality of thumbnails corresponding one to each of the programcontents have been recorded with one file (refer to FIG. 4, FIG. 7 etc.of JP-A-2001-101840). Specifically, in FIG. 4 of JP-A-2001-101840, it isa point in which a plurality of thumbnails 1 to 3 are recorded as onefile ThumbNail.dat 70040. In this case, in order to, for example, deleteone from among the plurality of thumbnails, it is necessary to open theThumbNail.dat 70040 once and, after deleting an unnecessary thumbnail,save the ThumbNail.dat 70040. In the case in which there has been a kindof editing in which one portion of the ThumbNail.dat 70040 is deleted inthis way, another thumbnail is relocated in such a way as to fill anempty area arising due to the deleted thumbnail, along with which all ofthe program contents are also relocated. That is, information on theother thumbnail, the program contents, and the like, is moved on therecording medium by an amount of a capacity of the deleted thumbnail.The larger a capacity of the recording medium, the more a processingtime of this kind of information relocation accompanying the thumbnaildeletion increases. In particular, it can be supposed that the increasein processing time is noticeable in a portable HDD or the like, of whicha capacity increases from a current DVD (4.7 GB).

Also, in the heretofore described JP-A-2000-152180, as a method ofrecording, in a management file, an editing link point (hereafterreferred to as an editing point), such as a reproduction starting pointor a link point with another scene in a case in which the user freelyspecifies a reproduction position of a recorded image and sound stream,a method has been utilized which records with a presentation time stamp(PTS, MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) standard as data of the editingpoint. However, with this recording method, it is necessary to calculatehow many GOP's from a PTS of the editing point it coincides with at atime of reproduction, and furthermore, to further calculate which frameof the GOP (hereafter, it will be taken that frame refers to a frame ofan image signal) it coincides with, and control a stream to be suppliedto an MPEG decoder, a display switch timing, and the like. In an actualcontrol, it is preferable from an aspect of a control at the time ofreproduction to manage which frame of which GOP (Groupe of Picture, MPEGstandard) of the recorded image and sound stream is to be used.

The invention, bearing in mind the heretofore described points, has anobject of improving the usability of the recording/reproducing device.

An outline of one aspect of the invention is as follows.

In order to achieve the heretofore described object, a configuration issuch as to add a management unit which manages all registered playlistinformation, and a higher management hierarchy, and handle themanagement unit in the same way as integrated information which shows areproduction range of all AV data. Also, the configuration being such asto handle the integrated information according to a user definition inthe added management hierarchy, the configuration is such as to be ableto register an optional reproduction range included in a lower hierarchyin the integrated information.

Also, in order to interrupt a reproduction of a reproduced programpartway through, and carry out the reproduction again from areproduction stopping point, a position in which the reproduction hasbeen stopped is recorded as management information in the recordingmedium, and by independently holding a resume point at a playlistreproduction time, a resume point at a program reproduction time, aresume point according to an operating condition of the reproducingdevice, and the like, a resume reproduction control is carried out inaccordance with a reproduction condition at a reproduction stoppingtime.

Also, in order to arrange in such a way that the recording medium, usinga high speed hard disc drive, can carry out an operation such as thereproduction while recording, a recording/reproducing unit is configuredin such a way as to secure a prescribed amount of units which record orreproduce a program stream.

Also, in order to accelerate a navigation display, a configuration issuch that a navigation display thumbnail generated in advance isrecorded on the recording medium, correlated to the program.

Also, as management information of the editing point, which frame (aframe number) of which GOP (a GOP number) of the recorded image andsound stream it is recorded.

Details of inventions, in the invention, to be claimed are as describedin the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a management condition of AV data by arecording/reproducing device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a management condition of AV data accordingto the heretofore known example;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the recording/reproducing device accordingto the invention;

FIG. 4 is a display output example of original integrated information;

FIG. 5 is a display output example as a list of playlists of userdefined integrated information;

FIG. 6 is a first display output example of the user defined integratedinformation;

FIG. 7 is a second display output example of the user defined integratedinformation;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one example of a file structure of each ofthe original integrated information, playlist integrated information,the user defined integrated information, playlist information, programinformation, AV data (program), and the like;

FIG. 9 shows one example of a management table structure of each item ofthe original integrated information;

FIG. 10 shows one example of a configuration of playlist managementinformation and management table configuration;

FIG. 11 shows one example of a configuration and management table oforiginal program management information;

FIG. 12 shows one example of a configuration and management table ofuser defined program information;

FIG. 13 shows one example of a configuration and management table ofuser defined integrated management information;

FIG. 14 shows a packet configuration of an AV stream file;

FIG. 15 shows a process of a separation time of the AV stream file;

FIG. 16 illustrates thumbnail management information;

FIG. 17 shows a configuration and management table of managementinformation which has integrated thumbnails;

FIG. 18 shows contents of named stream ProgramInfo 824 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 19 shows details of ACU information 1900.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, a description will be given, using the drawings, of anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a management condition of AV data on a recording medium, ina recording/reproducing device according to the embodiment. 101, in thesame way as 201 in FIG. 2, being actual AV data on a recording medium,shows a case in which a program no. 1 to a program no. 3 exist asrecording units. 102, corresponding to 202 in FIG. 2, shows here a thirdmanagement hierarchy (a management level 3) of management information.Program information no. 1 to program information no. 3 show allreproduction ranges of program units, the program no. 1 to the programno. 3, respectively (hereafter, program information forming a pair withan entity of these programs will be referred to as “original programinformation”. Also, it is shown as “OPGR no. 1” in FIG. 1). Also,program information no. 2 a to program information no. 3 a, showing areproduction range of a whole or a portion of a program freely specifiedby a user (hereafter, these will be referred to as “user defined programinformation”. Also, they are shown as “UPGR no. 2 a” in FIG. 1.), showhere a portion of the program no. 2 and a portion of the program no. 3respectively. Information of places corresponding to the programinformation no. 1 to program information no. 3 also increases ordecreases along with an addition or deletion of the AV data, that is, anincrease or decrease of the program. Also, a quantity of information ofplaces corresponding to the program information no. 2 a and programinformation no. 3 a increases or decreases in accordance with an editingoperation by the user.

Although 103 corresponds to the management level 1 in FIG. 2, it showshere a second management hierarchy (a management level 2) of themanagement information, and it includes only playlist information no. 1to playlist information no. n. Each item of playlist information showinga reproduction order of optional program information in the managementlevel 3, it is possible to have a plurality thereof. 104, as acharacteristic point of the embodiment, being a first hierarchy (amanagement level 1) of newly added management information, includes aplurality of items of integrated information. Original integratedinformation being integrated information which stores system resumeinformation and the like, details will be described hereafter. Userdefined integrated information no. 1 to user defined integratedinformation no. m includes an optional one or plurality of items fromamong the playlist information in the management level 2 and the programinformation in the management level 3. For example, in a case in which aplurality of users use a single recording medium, by using one item ofuser defined integrated information per user, it is possible to managereproduction contents which match preference of each user.

Next, a more specific description of the embodiment of therecording/reproducing device according to the invention will be given,using different drawings.

FIG. 3 being a block diagram of showing an example of therecording/reproducing device according to the embodiment, it shows akind of recording/reproducing device which can receive a digitalbroadcast and record it on the recording medium, as well as reproducingthe recorded data, and obtaining a reproduction transmission. 300 is therecording/reproducing device, 301 an input terminal which inputs areceiving wave from an antenna, 3011 an input terminal for inputtingcompressed image and sound data from another instrument, 3012 an analogimage input terminal for inputting an analog image signal, 3013 ananalog sound input terminal for inputting an analog sound signal, 333and 334 analog/digital (A/D) converter circuits for converting an analogsignal into a digital signal, 302 a demodulating circuit, 330 aseparation circuit which separates a demodulated digital signal intosound, image and other data, 335 a compression circuit which compressesdigitalized image and sound signals, 303 a recording system signalprocessing circuit, 331 an encoding circuit for encoding data to berecorded, 304 a recording/reproducing system including a drive functionof the recording medium, 305 the recording medium, 332 an unencodingcircuit for unencoding encoded data recorded on the recording medium,306 a reproducing system signal processing circuit, 307 is a switchingcircuit, 308 a separation circuit, 309 an image decoding circuit, 310 adigital/analog (D/A) converter circuit, 311 an image output terminal,312 a sound decoding circuit, 313 a D/A converter circuit, 314 a soundoutput terminal, 315 a television set, 316 a user I/F, 317 a controller,318 is a system bus, 319 an OSD generator, and 320 an adding circuit.

At a time of recording, a signal transmitted from a broadcasting stationby means of a digital broadcast or the like, and received by therecording/reproducing device, after being demodulated by a prescribedmethod in the demodulating circuit 302, is subjected to necessary signalprocesses, such as an addition of data for a timing adjustment and amodulation, in the recording system signal process circuit 303, and isrecorded on the recording medium 305 by the recording/reproducing system304, after being encoded by the encoding circuit 331. Also, a digitalsignal input from the digital input terminal 3011 is subjected to thenecessary signal processes, such as the addition of the data for thetiming adjustment and the modulation, in the recording system signalprocess circuit 303, and is recorded on the recording medium 305 by therecording/reproducing system 304, after being encoded by the encodingcircuit 331. Also, an analog image signal input from the analog imageinput terminal 3012, and an analog sound signal input from the analogsound input terminal 3013, are subjected to a compression process by thecompression circuit 335, and are recorded on the recording medium 305 bythe recording/reproducing system 304, via the recording system signalprocess circuit 303, after being encoded by the encoding circuit 331.

At a time of reproduction, encoded digital data read via therecording/reproducing system 304 from the recording medium 305, inaccordance with an instruction from the user, are unencoded by theunencoding circuit 332, are subjected to signal processes necessary forthe reproduction, such as a demodulation by a format in keeping with aprescribed modulation method, in the reproduction system signalprocessing circuit 103, and are transmitted to the separation circuit308 via the switching circuit 307. The digital data are subjected to aprescribed image decoding process by the image decoding circuit 309 and,after a conversion from the digital data to an analog signal has beendone in the D/A converter circuit 310, an image is displayed on amonitor output of the television set 315 via the image output terminal311. Also, the digital data are subjected to a prescribed sound decodingprocess by the sound decoding circuit 312 and, after a conversion fromthe digital data to an analog signal has been done in the D/A convertercircuit 313, a sound is output by a sound transmission mechanism of thetelevision set 315 via the sound output terminal 314.

The controller 317 controls each part of the recording/reproducingdevice 300 via the system bus 318, as well as controlling a whole of thedevice in such a way as to carry out operations based on a user'sinstruction input, input via the user I/F 316. An instruction inputrequest to the user, or a necessary OSD display to the user, beingprepared in the OSD generator 319, is added to the output of the imagedecoding circuit 309 at an appropriate level in the adding circuit 320,and realized by ultimately being transmitted to a monitor screen of thetelevision set 315.

Next, a description will be given, as a specific example of use of amanagement information configuration in FIG. 1, of a case in which eachitem of integrated information in the management level 1 is used in amenu display of the recorded data.

FIG. 4 is one example of carrying out a menu display using the originalintegrated information in FIG. 1. 315 is the television set in FIG. 3,401 a tag for displaying all programs, 402 thumbnail showing programinformation no. 1, 403 thumbnail showing program information no. 2, and404 thumbnail showing program information no. 3. The user, bydetermining a selection by moving a cursor position on the screen to adesired thumbnail, by means of a remote control or the like, canreproduce an optional program or all the programs.

Next, FIG. 5 is one example of using one of a certain number of items ofthe user defined integrated information in FIG. 1, and carrying out amenu display with this as a playlist. 501 is a tag for displaying allplaylists, 502 thumbnail showing playlist information no. 1, and 503thumbnail showing playlist information no. 2. The user, by determining aselection by moving a cursor position on the screen to a desiredthumbnail, by means of a remote control or the like, in the same way asin the previously described case, can reproduce an optional playlist orall the playlists. A switching of a display from the all program displaytag 401 to the all playlist display tag 501 can be realized, forexample, by the user moving the cursor at a tag character position, orthe like.

Next, FIG. 6 is one example of carrying out a menu display using theuser defined integrated information no. 1 in FIG. 1. 601 being a tag fora user no. 1 (taken here to be “Mom”) menu display, 402 and 502, as isclear from FIG. 1, are thumbnails showing the program information no. 1and the playlist information no. 1. “Mom” having the Mom menu displaytag 601 as her own exclusive folder, it is possible to freely registerand delete data she wishes to reproduce.

In the same way, FIG. 7 is one example of carrying out a menu displayusing the user defined integrated information no. 2 in FIG. 1. 701 beinga tag for a user no. 2 (taken here to be “Dad”) menu display, 503 and502, as is clear from FIG. 1, are thumbnails showing the playlistinformation no. 2 and the playlist information no. 1. In this case,although “Dad” has selected two playlists, it is possible to change areproduction order thereof. Also, in the same way as the previouslydescribed “Mom”, “Dad” having the Dad menu display tag 701 as his ownexclusive folder, it is possible to freely register and delete data hewishes to reproduce.

In the heretofore described way, according to the embodiment of theinvention, a configuration is such as to add a management unit whichmanages all of the registered playlist information, and a highermanagement hierarchy, and handle them in the same way as the integratedinformation which shows a reproduction range of all the AV data. Also,the configuration being such as to handle the integrated informationaccording to a user definition in the added management hierarchy, theconfiguration is such as to be able to register an optional reproductionrange included in a lower hierarchy in the integrated informationaccording to the user definition. By this means, the user can select andmanage an optional playlist or a reproduction range.

By arranging in this way, even in a case in which a plurality of usersshare a single recording medium, or the like, it being possible for eachuser to manage preferred reproduction contents, a usability improves.

Although, in the heretofore described embodiment, the case has beendescribed in which the digital broadcast is received, and the digitaldata are recorded as they are, not being limited to this, it is alsoacceptable to have a kind of configuration which provides a network I/Fand acquires the AV data from an external network, or provides a codingdevice which records the analog data in the recording medium whilecoding them. That is, the embodiment referring to the data management onthe recording medium, it is not especially limited with regard to aninput path.

FIG. 8 shows one example of in what kind of file configuration theheretofore described program and program information, playlistinformation, and original integrated information and user definedintegrated information are actually recorded on the recording medium 305(FIG. 3). The recording medium being a medium which carries out adigital recording and reproduction, each file on the medium is managedwith a filing system similar to that used in a management of a recordingmedium such as a so-called personal computer. In the same figure, ROOT800 shows a highest hierarchy of a file directory, and TVR 801, being adirectory in a lower hierarchy thereof, shows each file configurationwhich realizes the management configuration shown in FIG. 1 according tothe invention. Management files such as TVREC. MGR 802, PGRG.MGR 803,PGRG_INF.TBL 804, PGR.MGR 805, PGR_INF.TBL 806, UPGR.MGR 807,UPGR_INF.TBL 808, UDFF.MGR 809, and UDFF_INF.TBL 810, and AV streamPROG0001.AVS 820, . . . PROGxxxx.AVS (a number is attached in a xxxxportion of an AV stream file, for example, an order number increasesevery time an AV stream is recorded) 821, in which the image and soundare multiplexed, are recorded below the TVR 801. 830 being a directoryfurther below the TVR 801, it is a directory with a directory name TNDfor storing thumbnail-related files used in a navigation list or thelike recorded in the recording medium. 831 is a thumbnail managementfile which integratedly manages actual files 832, 833, . . . 834 of athumbnail with a file name TND.MGR. A file name of the actual files ofthe thumbnail, as shown in 834, is taken as TNxxxxyy.zzz, where xxxxcorresponds to xxxx of a program file 821 relating to the thumbnail, anumber of an order in which it has been registered as the thumbnail isallotted to yy, and a zzz portion, for example, is bmp in the event thata kind of thumbnail data is an uncompressed bit map, and jpg in theevent that it is a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compressedkind. In the embodiment, thumbnail files corresponding to each programfile are recorded separately, as with 832 to 834. In this way, byseparately recording a plurality of thumbnail files, as with 832 to 834,without gathering them into one file, a process when adding or deletinga thumbnail file becomes easier. Particularly in a large capacityrecording medium such as a portable hard disc, it is possible to achievea reduction in a processing time when adding or deleting the thumbnailfile.

The AV stream files 820 (PROG0001.AVS) and 821 (PROGxxxx.AVS) of FIG. 8are recorded by a configuration shown in FIG. 14.

1401 in FIG. 14 being an AV stream file, a minimum unit when recordingan AV stream received by a broadcast is taken to be an ALU. Also, in theevent that the AV stream has been encoded, the ALU is also a minimumunit of the encoding. An RP 1402, which is a unit of a recording packet,is a 192 byte data packet to which a time stamp at a time of receiving(counting at 27 MHz, a count value of 4 bytes at a point of receiving)is added as a header to an MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) standardtransport packet (188 bytes) and, in the embodiment, 8,192 of these 192byte RP packets 1402 are gathered as one ALU. An ALU no. 1 to ALU no. v(8,192 RP's each) and, in addition to the sequentially recorded AVstreams, a total ALU quantity of recorded AV streams, as ALU information1403, as well as a first ALU number, a first ALU RP quantity, and an AVstream final ALU RP quantity, are recorded in the AV stream file 1401.The ALU information 1403 corresponds to an AllocUnitInfo 823 in FIG. 8.This, because there is a case in which the first ALU and the final ALURP quantity of the AV stream do not reach 8,192, is for recording them(details will be described hereafter).

Also, the AV stream files 820 and 821 have a configuration of a streamdirectory 822 in a lower hierarchy of a file structure, regulated by,for example, a UDF (Universal Disc Format), and furthermore have filescalled AllocUnitInfo 823, ProgramInfo 824, and AccessUnitInfo 825,called named streams.

FIG. 9 shows a management table configuration of the TVREC.MGR 802 (FIG.8). System resume information 902 and a program integrated informationname 903 are recorded as original integrated information 901.

As the system resume information, a number of user defined integratedinformation (UDFF), and a playlist information (PGRG) number of ahierarchy immediately below, at a point at which the user stops thereproduction, a number (PGR) of original program information (OPGR) oruser defined program information (UPGR) of a hierarchy immediatelybelow, an ALU number which is a minimum unit at a time of recording theAV stream, to be described hereafter, corresponding to a GOP at thepoint of stopping, an RP number of a recording packet of a correspondingGOP inside the ALU, and a frame number of the corresponding GOP arerecorded as a table. By so doing, it is possible to carry out a controlof a system resume reproduction start at an accuracy of a frame unit. Inorder to judge whether the PGR number is OPGR or UPGR, it isdifferentiated, for example, as OPGR in the event that the PGR number(hexadecimal) is 0000 to 7FFF, and UPGR in the event that the PGR number(hexadecimal) is 8000 to FFFF. 903 being a field in which a name (PGSETname) given to program integrated information is recorded, for example,character string information on a name which the user has bestowed on acollection of contents recorded in the recording medium is recorded. Byso doing, as it is possible to use it in a discrimination of who isusing the recording medium, or the like, and it is possible to record aname relating to the collection of contents, there is an advantage inthat it becomes easier to ascertain recorded contents. FIG. 10 showscontents of a playlist management information (PGRG) file 1001, and aplaylist management table file 1010, which manage the playlist. Theplaylist management information (PGRG) file corresponds to the PGRG.MGR803 of FIG. 8, and the playlist management table file 1010 to thePGRG_INF.TBL 804 of FIG. 8. A quantity of playlists which the user hasregistered by editing (a case of n in FIG. 10), and information onpositions in the playlist management table file PGRG_INF.TBL (forexample, information on how many bytes from a head of the playlistmanagement table file PGRG_INF.TBL 1010) in which are recorded contentsof a following playlist no. 1, playlist no. 2 . . . playlist no. n−1,and playlist no. n, are recorded in the PGRG.MGR 1001.

The following information on each of the playlists no. 1, . . . , no.n−1, and no. n is recorded as a table in the playlist management tablefile 1010. A configuration of the playlist no. n−1 is shown as adetailed example of the playlist management table 1010 of FIG. 10. Acompilation time 1011 (a time at a point at which the user, operatingthe device, has compiled the playlist no. n−1), as well as a name 1012,thumbnail information 1013, resume information 1017 and, following this,a quantity of program information 1018 showing original programinformation (OPGR) or user defined program information (UPGR) registeredin the playlist no. n−1, and a number of the registered number listprogram information (PGR information. The differentiation between theOPGR and the UPGR is, as previously described, that a PGR number(hexadecimal) of 7FFF or less is OPGR, while one of 8000 or more isUPGR), are recorded as the information of the playlist no. n−1.

As the playlist compilation time 1011 is recorded as the managementinformation, it is possible, at the time of reproduction, to display aplaylist list in a compilation time order.

The thumbnail information 1013 of FIG. 10 is configured of formatinformation (information on whether contents protection is necessary orunnecessary, whether or not it is necessary to compile a thumbnail to bedisplayed based on a reference position of a recorded AV stream image,whether to refer to thumbnail data registered in an external file, andthe like) 1014, position information 1015 displayed as a thumbnail inthe AV stream, and external file thumbnail data position information1016. The thumbnail position information 1015 is configured of a programinformation (PGR) number displayed as a thumbnail, a number of an ALUcorresponding to a GOP position of a thumbnail displayed by an AV streamcorresponding to the PGR number, an RP number in the ALU numbercorresponding to the GOP, and a frame number to be displayed as athumbnail of the GOP.

A number (OPGR in the event that the PGR number is 7FFF or less, UPGR inthe event that it is 8000 or more) of a program (PGR) being reproducedat a point at which the reproduction of playlist no. n−1 is stopped, anALU number corresponding to a GOP in the PGR number at the point atwhich the reproduction is stopped, an RP number, and a frame number inthe GOP at the time of stopping, are recorded in the resume information1017. By so doing, the resume, in addition to the system resumeinformation 902 shown in FIG. 9, can individually record and manageresume information for each individual item of original programinformation or user defined playlist, as with the resume information1017. Therefore, as a resume reproduction function at the time ofreproduction, it is possible to provide a function capable of a resumereproduction control including, for example, carrying out a reproductioncontrol at a resume point of each original program and, in accordancewith a previous reproduction stopping condition, indicating at whatnumber of the user defined integrated information (UDFF) thereproduction has been stopped, and the like, and it is possible to carryout the control of the reproduction start at the accuracy of the frameunit.

FIG. 11 shows contents of an original program management information(OPGR) file 1101 and an original program management table file 1110.Including all the original program information on the recording medium,by reproducing with this as a base, the user can reproduce all the AVdata recorded on the recording medium. The original program managementinformation (OPGR) file 1101 corresponds to the PGR.MGR 805 of FIG. 8,and the original program management table file 1110 to the PGR_INF.TBL806 of FIG. 8. A quantity of original programs recorded in the recordingmedium (a case of p in FIG. 11), and information on positions in theoriginal program management table file 1110 (for example, information onhow many bytes from a head of the original program informationmanagement table file PGR_INF.TBL 1110) in which are recorded contentsof following original program information no. 1, original programinformation no. 2 . . . original program information no. n−1, andoriginal program information no. n, are recorded in the original programmanagement information file 1101.

A table portion of the playlist no. p−1 is shown as a detailed exampleof the original program management table 1110 of FIG. 11. A programinformation flag 1111, including whether the no. p−1 original programinformation is valid or invalid, copy control information (hereafterreferred to as CCI), and the like, a compilation time 1112 (a time at apoint at which the user, carrying out a recording operation with thedevice, has compiled the original program information no. p−1), as wellas a name 1113, a thumbnail file number (the xxxx of PROGxxxx.AVS 821appearing in FIG. 8) 1114, thumbnail information 1115, resumeinformation 1119 and, furthermore, an index quantity 1120, an ALU numberand RP number corresponding to a GOP of an AV stream corresponding tothe program information no. p−1, which shows a format, and a position ofan index, for each individual index number, and a frame number specifiedas an index in the GOP, are disposed as the information of the playlistno. p−1. The index being, for example, specified position information ina case in which the user edits a program corresponding to the originalprogram information no. p−1, and specifies a marking pointspecification, as long as the index has been specified by the editing,an operation such as causing the program corresponding to the originalprogram information no. p−1, at the time of reproduction, to leapswiftly to the position specified by the index, is possible in the frameunit. Each component of the thumbnail information 1115; a thumbnailformat 1116, a thumbnail position 1117, and a thumbnail external fileposition 1118, have the same kind of data structure as the thumbnailformat 1014, the thumbnail position 1015, and the thumbnail externalfile position 1016 in the previous playlist management table 1010 ofFIG. 10. Also, configuration components of the resume information 1119are also similar to the previous resume information 1017 of FIG. 10.

Also, a difference value between an initial GOP position of an AV streamof a recorded original program, and a GOP corresponding to an initialreproduction position, is recorded in an initial ACU offset number 1130of FIG. 11, while a frame number of the GOP wished to be reproduced isrecorded in an initial frame number 1131. A definition of an ACU entrynumber will be given hereafter. Also, a difference value between aterminal GOP of the AV stream of the recorded original program, and anACU entry number corresponding to a terminal GOP to be reproduced, isrecorded in a terminal ACU offset number 1132, while a frame number tobe reproduced in the terminal GOP to be reproduced is recorded in aterminal frame number 1133. By so doing, it is possible to prevent areproduction of an unnecessary previous or subsequent portion, fromamong the recorded streams, from being done. Also, by regulating a sizeof a difference value between a head of the AV stream of the actualrecorded original program and a reproduction start, and furthermore, byregulating a difference value between a terminus of the AV stream of theactual recorded original program and a reproduction terminus, it ispossible to limit a time gap between the AV stream of the actuallyrecorded original program and the AV stream of the original program tobe reproduced to within a regulation size. Therefore, in the event that,for example, data of this reproduction range are destroyed for somereason, although, in a worst case, there is a possibility of a conditionoccurring in which the reproduction is absolutely impossible, by keepingwithin the regulation size, it is possible to reduce a range in whichthe reproduction is impossible. However, it is also acceptable that theinitial ACU offset number 1130 and the terminal ACU offset number 1132are absolute values (not a difference value) of an ACU entry numberwhich specifies the range to be reproduced.

FIG. 12 shows contents of a user defined program management information(UPGR) file 1201 and a user defined program management table file 1210.The user defined program management information (UPGR) file 1101corresponds to the UPGR.MGR 807 of FIG. 8, and the user defined programmanagement table file 1210 to the UPGR_INF.TBL 808 of FIG. 8. A quantityof user defined programs which the user has registered by editing (acase of r in FIG. 12), and information on positions in the user definedprogram management table file 1210 (for example, information on how manybytes from a head of the user defined program management table file(UPGR_INF.TBL) 1210) in which are recorded contents of following userdefined program information no. 1, user defined program information no.2 . . . user defined program information no. r−1, and user definedprogram information no. r, are recorded in the user defined programmanagement information file 1201.

A table portion of the user defined program no. r−1 is shown as adetailed example of the user defined program management table 1201 ofFIG. 12. A program file number (the xxxx of PROGxxxx.AVS 821 appearingin FIG. 8) 1211 relating to the user defined information, a reproductionstart position (as information, an ALU number corresponding to aninitial GOP which specifies the reproduction in the AV stream, an RPnumber, and a frame number 1220 which starts the reproduction in theGOP) 1212 of the AV stream of the heretofore mentioned file number,specified as the user defined program information, as well as areproduction finishing position 1213 (as information, an ALU numbercorresponding to a terminal GOP which specifies the reproduction in theAV stream, an RP number, and a frame number 1221 which finishes thereproduction in the GOP) and, furthermore, an index quantity 1214, anALU number, and an RP number of an index specification position in theALU, of an AV stream corresponding to the user defined programinformation no. r−1, which shows a format, and a position of an index,for each individual index number, are disposed as the information of theuser defined program information no. r−1. The index being, in the sameway as the previous original program information of FIG. 11, forexample, specified position information in a case in which the useredits a program corresponding to the user defined program informationno. r−1, and specifies a marking point specification, as long as theindex has been specified, the operation such as causing the programcorresponding to the original program information no. p−1, at the timeof reproduction, to leap swiftly to the position specified by the index,is possible.

FIG. 13 shows contents of a user defined integrated managementinformation (UDFF) file 1301 and a user defined integrated managementtable file 1310. The user defined integrated management information(UDFF) file 1301 corresponds to the UDFF.MGR 809 of FIG. 8, and the userdefined integrated management table file 1310 to the UDFF_INF.TBL 810 ofFIG. 8. A quantity of user defined integrated information which the userhas registered by editing (a case of t in FIG. 13), and information onpositions in the user defined integrated information table file 1310(for example, information on how many bytes from a head of the userdefined integrated management table file UDFF_INF.TBL 1310) in which arerecorded contents of following user defined integrated information no.1, user defined integrated information no. 2 . . . user definedintegrated information no. t−1, and user defined integrated informationno. t, are recorded in the user defined integrated managementinformation file 1301.

A table portion of the user defined integrated information no. t−1 isshown as a detailed example of the user defined integrated managementtable 1310 of FIG. 13. Information of the user defined integratedinformation no. t−1 is configured of a compilation time 1311 in whichthe user defined integrated information has been compiled, a name 1312of the user defined integrated information, thumbnail information 1313which represents the user defined integrated information, a quantity1317 of original program numbers or playlist numbers which configure theuser defined integrated information and, following this, a sequence ofthe original program numbers or playlist numbers which configure theuser defined integrated information.

A thumbnail format 1314, a thumbnail position 1315, and a thumbnailexternal file position 1316, which are components of the thumbnailinformation 1313, have the same kind of data structure as the thumbnailformat 1014, the thumbnail position 1015, and the thumbnail externalfile position 1016 in the previous playlist management table 1010 ofFIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a correlation between a thumbnailmanagement data structure and the external thumbnail file. In the samefigure, thumbnail management data 1601, being configured of thethumbnail format, the thumbnail position and the thumbnail external fileposition, are the same as the thumbnail information 1013 of FIG. 10, thethumbnail information 1115 of FIG. 11, and the thumbnail information1313 of FIG. 13. The thumbnail position being configured of a number ofa program file 1602 program information (PGR), an ALU numbercorresponding to a position of an AV stream displayed as a thumbnail,and an RP number in an ALU corresponding to the ALU number, thumbnailexternal file information is configured of a program file number xxxxand a thumbnail file number yy.

FIG. 17, showing a structure of an all thumbnail management informationfile 1701, corresponds to the TND.MGR 831 of FIG. 8. Information whichintegrates the thumbnails is configured of a quantity of registeredthumbnails (a case of i in the figure) 1702, thumbnail pointers 1703 and1704, which have as information a pointer value of a place whichcontains information on a subsequently registered quantity's worth ofthumbnails, and the like, and following this, each item of thumbnailinformation 1705 to 1706. Each item of thumbnail information 1705 to1706 is configured of information on a program file number, a thumbnailfile number, thumbnail related information (such as a vertical andhorizontal pixel size of the thumbnail, and a compression method), andthumbnail protection information (a possibility or otherwise of anencoding of the thumbnail). As long as the thumbnail information isgathered in one place in this way, as it is possible to ascertain allthe thumbnail information simply by referring to the all thumbnailmanagement information file 1701, there is an advantage of being able toaccelerate an operation in a case of acquiring a thumbnail informationlist or the like with a reproduction machine or the like according tothe invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing in what way a management of aprogram file which contains an AV stream is carried out, in a case inwhich, for example, the user separates one program in an editingoperation (for example, a case in which one recorded program isseparated into two). As shown in the same figure, an AV stream of anoptional PROGxxxx.AVS file is disposed in ALU units. Because of this,although it would be simple to separate in the ALU units, whenextrapolating the ALU units to a reproduction time of the recorded AVstream, they become units of several tens of seconds, and a separationaccuracy becomes extremely poor. For this reason, it is arranged in sucha way that, in a separation point, it can be done by RP units. In thiscase, as shown in FIG. 15, the separation is done at an ALU number no. fportion. Then, AV streams of ALU no. 1 to ALU no. f of the separatedfile are newly taken as PROGxxxx.AVS, and AV streams of ALU no. f to ALUno. h taken as PROGxxx+1.AVS (1 is added to the file number xxxx), andrecorded. In this case, as an ALU value of a stream portion terminus ofthe PROGxxxx.AVS after separation does not reach the prescribed 8,192 RP(shown in FIG. 14), at the same time as changing a “program ALUquantity”, which is a parameter of the ALU management information 1403of FIG. 14, a “final ALU RP quantity” is changed to an RP quantity afterseparation, that is, an RP quantity before a point at which the ALU no.f has been separated, and the file PROGxxxx.AVS is updated. Also, withrespect to the AV stream of PROGxxxx+1.AVS (FIG. 15) after separationtoo, at the same time as changing the “program ALU quantity”, which is aparameter of the ALU management information 1403 of FIG. 14, a “firstALU RP quantity” is changed to an RP quantity after separation, that is,an RP quantity after the point at which the ALU no. f has beenseparated, and recorded. By so doing, an accuracy of the separationpoint improves. At least, in the event that the separation point is anMPEG compressed AV stream, a separation at an accuracy of a GOP (Groupof Picture) unit is possible.

FIG. 18, being program information 1801, shows contents of the previousnamed stream ProgramInfo 824 in FIG. 8. In the same figure, programgeneral information 1802 of the original program of the recorded AVstream is program identification information 1803 informing of arecording in the recording format of the embodiment, as well as streamformat information 1804, which is identification information such as, asa kind of AV stream of the recorded original program, for example, thedigital broadcast (Japan, Europe, North America etc.) or an AV streamself-encoded in the recording machine, and stream format detailedinformation 1805, configured of a recording starting time and finishingtime, a program name and type, and the like.

FIG. 19 shows contents of ACU information 1900, and the ACU information1900 shows contents of the named stream AccessUnitInfo 825 of FIG. 8.The ACU has as information an ALU number and an RP number (FIG. 14) of aportion of an AV stream in which a GOP is positioned, as well as an RPquantity corresponding to a length of an I picture in an MPEG standardin the GOP, and the like. In the same figure, ACU general information1901 has an ACU group entry quantity as an ACU group quantity. Although,in the embodiment, a table is configured in order to be able to manageACU entries of a plurality of groups, including an expansion elsewhere,in a normal case, one ACU group for one AV stream is sufficient.Following this, information 1902 on a position in which contents of anACU group entry no. 1 are disposed (for example, how many bytes from afirst byte of the ACU information 1900 the contents of the ACU groupentry no. 1 are recorded at), and continuing on, a position 1903 ofcontents of an ACU group entry no. 2, . . . , a position 1904 ofcontents of an ACU group entry no. z−1, and a position 1905 of contentsof an ACU group entry no. z, are recorded. Continuing further, generalinformation 1906 of the ACU group entry no. 1 (configured of a totalquantity of ACU's recorded in the ACU group entry no. 1 (an ACU entryquantity), and a maximum value of the ACU's recorded in the ACU groupentry no. 1), and continuing on, information 1907 of an ACU entry no. 1,. . . , information 1908 of an ACU entry no. n, general information ofthe ACU group entry no. 2, . . . and so on are recorded. The information1907 of the ACU entry no. 1, . . . , the information 1908 of the ACUentry no. n are each configured of an ACU format configured by having,as a flag, an existence or otherwise of a sequence header (MPEGstandard) as a configuration of the GOP, an existence or otherwise of aGOP header, a category of a picture which configures the ACU (an MPEGstandard I picture/P picture; only the I picture is assumed in theembodiment), and the like, an ACU time stamp, a certain ALU number ofthe GOP corresponding to an ACU entry number, as an ACU startingposition, an RP number in the ALU, and an ACU size determined by apacket quantity of the I picture.

As above, according to the recording/reproducing device of theinvention, the usability improves. For example, advantages of thefollowing kinds of usability improvement are achieved.

As it is possible for the user to select and manage an optional playlistor a reproduction range, even in the case in which a plurality of usersshare a single recording medium, or the like, it being possible for eachuser to manage the preferred reproduction contents, the usabilityimproves and, as the playlists are integratedly managed, it is possiblefor the user to freely change a display order etc. of the playlists.

Also, the user can reproduce from the resume point of the programreproduction and playlist reproduction, regardless of a reproductioncondition of the playlist reproduction, program reproduction and thelike.

Also, when the user carries out a desired navigation display, areproduction machine can display the thumbnail list quickly.

Also, with a GOP number and frame number recorded as an editing point asa base, it becoming possible to supply a portion of the relevant GOP toa decoder, and control which editing point frame's information areproduction display is based on, it is possible to easily carry out thereproduction control.

While we have shown and described several embodiments in accordance withour invention, it should be understood that disclosed embodiments aresusceptible to changes and modifications without departing from thescope of the invention. Therefore, we do not intend to bound by thedetails shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such changesand modifications as fall within the ambit of the appended claims.

1. An image and sound stream recording method comprising: recording animage and sound stream, and management information which manages theimage and sound stream, wherein the management information, as anediting point of the image and sound stream, records positioninformation of a GOP which corresponds to the editing point, and a framenumber in the GOP.
 2. The image and sound stream recording methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the editing point is a starting point anda finishing point of a playlist.
 3. The image and sound stream recordingmethod according to claim 1, wherein the editing point is a displayposition of a thumbnail.
 4. The image and sound stream recording methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the editing point is an index which a userhas specified.
 5. An image and sound stream recording method comprising:recording an image and sound stream, and management information whichmanages the image and sound stream, wherein the management information,as a resume point of the image and sound stream, records positioninformation of a GOP which corresponds to the resume point, and a framenumber in the GOP.
 6. An image and sound stream recording methodcomprising: recording an image and sound stream, and managementinformation which manages the image and sound stream, wherein the imageand sound stream has a plurality of GOP's, the GOP has a plurality offrames, and the management information, as an editing point of the imageand sound stream, records position information of a GOP, and a framenumber in the GOP.